Welcome to the New Year

Every business owner knows he or she must offer value to be successful. One tool local and small businesses have is certifications: Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Woman Owned Business, (WBE) County Business Enterprise (CBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). Many public sector entities require large businesses to add smaller businesses to each team. TMS has certifications with Florida (MBE), Palm Beach County (SBE), Broward County (CBE) West Palm Beach (SBE), Palm Beach County School District (SBE, MWBE), Broward County School District (M/WBE), Broward College (MBE), Miami Dade School District (M/WBE), South Florida Water Management District (SBE), Hillsborough County (M/WBE) and Florida Department of Transportation (DBE). We encouraged our client Bill Weiss, Image One get certified at Palm Beach County. He was thrilled when he started getting calls and emails from large firms asking him to join their teams. Bill said, “Every local business should look into the value of certification. While getting mentored by larger firms, Image One brings tremendous cost effective solutions to each project.”

Where has Sammie Been?

Sammie has been very busy this month attending various events, receptions, and meetings representing TMS. He is a proud Class of 2022 Leadership Palm Beach County graduate and attended the Leadership Palm Beach County Day at the South Florida Fair where TMS President Sharon Merchant is a Board Director. Sammie also attended the Christian Business Association of Palm Beach’s Breakfast Meeting featuring guest speaker Rex B. Kirby, Jr. CEO of Verdex Construction. Mr. Kirby shared his professional and personal journey through life and working towards the top in the construction industry. He highlighted the highs and lows throughout his career and gave a great overview of the awesome projects his team has completed and are currently working on at Verdex Construction. Sammie also attended the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours: State of the County Panel Discussion featuring County Administrator Verdenia Baker, County Commissioner Maria Marino, and County Commissioner Mack Bernard. They spoke about affordable housing initiatives in Palm Beach County and how it is viewed as a partnership between local, county, state, and Federal government agencies and economic development partners. Sammie is an Ambassador for the Chamber and thoroughly enjoys it.

Meet Our Newest Staff Member – Colleen Hackett

My name is Colleen Hackett and I am the new Administrative Assistant/PI Specialist for TMS and very happy to be part of the team. I have been an Administrative Assistant for fifteen years and I take pride in my work. I was born and raised in the little State of Connecticut, and just recently moved to South Carolina with my husband Greg. We have been happily married for thirty years. I have one daughter and three grandchildren. In my free time, I hike with my best fur pal Buford the Labrador retriever (who would love to be Sally’s new boyfriend.) I am also a bit of an artist and love to paint and draw and relax reading a good book.

Prime Office Space for Rent in

 Convenient Location

Downtown

 West Palm Beach

The Merchant Strategy has office space available downtown West Palm Beach on Dixie Highway. If you are interested please email Cheryl at cheryl@themerchantstrategy.com.